Afib vs. Flutter

Difference Between Afib and Flutter

In medical language, afib is another name for atrial fibrillation, while the flutter is the beat of atrial. The two terms are similar types of heart arrhythmia, which relate to the abnormal heartbeat rhythms exemplified by irregular heartbeat and sudden. AFIB and the beating that occurs when parts of the heart, the atria beat at an increased rate.

In a normal heart, in good health, the atria must contract when the ventricles exchange to support the state. The contraction of the blood channels atria into the ventricles. However, when the heart has an afib or condition of beat, the atria do not contract in a coordinated manner and consequently, the ventricles is not filled blood to the maximum capacity? This results in the fact pumping poorly organized blood, causing symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, weakness, and palpitation.

Worst case scenario is the total heart failure in the form of a stroke that can lead to permanent disability or death. The difference between afib and flutter has to do with progress. The flutter occurs first and it involves minor temporary arrhythmia. After a while, heart will either start beating normally or develop afib. afib may occur intermittently, and in the worst case it torments the heart constantly. The flutter can lead to afib if the afflicted person has a predisposition for, or there already exists chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, coronary artery disease or mitral valve disorder.

Afib is causing of blood clot in the left atrium, which can cause more complications. Such clots can lead to block arteries in any part of the body, causing cutting off of blood flow to this part of the body. The doctors diagnose the severity of afib by checking the symptoms of the afflicted person as well as by measuring the beat rate of the ventricles. If the beat rate is faster, it usually coincides with more severe symptoms and can lead to a stroke or total heart failure. The flutter as well as AFIB can be found by simply checking a person’s heart rate.

If a doctor suspect’s flutter, he or she usually does to the afflicted person to ECG, or electrocardiogram to confirm arrhythmia. To determine whether or not the clots formed in the left atrium, the doctor may also want to perform the ultrasonography on the patient. In the event of an emergency where the afflicted person has experienced the shock, loss of breath, or chest pain, a doctor may use a cardioverter defibrillator, which uses electricity to force the heart to go wrong in his normal beat.

Medications such as propranolol, diltiazem, verapamil and digoxin can be administered to the patient to reduce pulsation. Take notes, however, that although these drugs reduce the flutter or afib, they may not be completely restoring normal heartbeat. If these drugs prove inadequate, such as additional dofetilide, ibutilide and procainamide can be injected to restore the normal pulse immediately. If drugs or electric shock proves to be ineffective, the last resort should cut the link between the ventricles and atria and reraccorder via an artificial pacemaker. After treatment, the patient should be kept in observation for months to ensure that the beat or afib do not occur.

Summary:

1. The Flutter and afib occur as similar types of heart arrhythmia that begin when the atria to contract irregularly, causing insufficient blood flow to the ventricles and is poorly organized to pump blood throughout the body.

2. The Flutter afib above. The Flutter may stop after a while, or can develop in AFIB where arrhythmia occurs more regularly.

3. The Flutter and afib are common in people who are predisposed to, or have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension, or mitral valve disorder.

4. Electric shock and drugs can cure and beat afib. The most difficult treatment would be to replace the connection between atria and ventricles with an artificial pacemaker.